Airport Wildlife Hazards Program

Wildlife Services (WS), a program within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts that threaten public health and safety. Increased air traffic, urban sprawl, enhanced noise suppression on aircraft, and more concentrated populations of birds and other wildlife at or near airports contribute to wildlife strikes.

WS Research on Airport Wildlife Hazards and Management

National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC) scientists conduct research to provide information to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regarding the mitigation of bird-aircraft strike hazards. NWRC research is focused on understanding the nature of wildlife hazards at airports, developing management tools to reduce those hazards, and providing WS biologists, airport personnel, and FAA officials with information on the latest strategies for controlling wildlife hazards. >>More

What is a wildlife strike?

Strikes are when birds or other animals collide with an airplane. This may occur when the airplane is taking off, landing, or while it is in the air. Wildlife strikes have increased in the past 30 years because of a combination of expanding populations of many wildlife species that are hazardous to aviation and increasing numbers of aircraft movements. >>More

WS biologists estimated that technical or direct management assistance resulted in a reduction, suppression, or prevention of wildlife hazards at 589 (69%) of the 850 airports where some type of assistance was provided. This total included 264 (67%) of the 396 “Part 139”-certificated airports assisted. >>More

Statistics by State

Managing bird and other wildlife hazards at airports is a complex, public-sensitive endeavor involving many species of wildlife governed by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and other Federal, State and local regulations. Professional biologists trained in wildlife hazard management at airports assess hazards, provide training, and assist in the development of wildlife hazard management plans in all 50 states. >>More

Partners

In recognition of WS' expertise and accountability, several agencies have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WS to address wildlife conflicts at airports and military installations. >>More

Wildlife Management Hazards at Airports

The Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports Program Data Report has been developed to provide the public with information about WS' wildlife damage management activities at airports. >>More